Today we’d like to introduce you to Curtis Crump.
Curtis, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a sax and piano/keyboard playing musician and composer originating from Racine, WI who moved here to Los Angeles in January 2020. I went to school studying saxophone and Jazz Performance at the University of WI-Parkside and have been playing professionally in the Midwest since 2014. I played with notable groups in the WI area such as The Kevin Hayden Group, Back to Maryland, Grooveline, and The Eddie Butts Band. I also had been the head Director of Music for multiple churches for years as well.
I always had Los Angeles in my mind as my dream location because of what I thought the music scene would be out here & the opportunities to eventually pursue a career in film/TV scoring.
The main catalyst for moving when I did was a push from my close friend/musical colleague Claudio Parrone Jr. He had been living in Los Angeles since 2018 after we had extensively recorded & coproduced his first full-length album. So I made the big transition & essentially started over, just about square one, here in California.
Shortly after moving in January & getting my feet a little wet meeting some people & doing a very limited amount of gigs, the world changed from how we knew it. Covid spread & all of the freelance musician work was gone. At first, I didn’t know how to take it, but it brought a little comfort thinking ahead saying “Well, I guess everyone’s sort of reset at square one now!”
As the arts struggled throughout the pandemic, I was able to get out some, hang onto the few connections I made & form new ones & even in this limited experience in LA, I was in love with the music scene & community. There’s a huge advantage that Southern California has during all of this: it was warm enough to have events outside & spaced out.
I was going to Public jam sessions & concerts as much as I could as things slowly opened up again in March 2021. & I would say things took a big step forward close to May when there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel. All of a sudden I had been around long enough & in people’s minds when gigs got tossed their way. I was getting calls! It’s been a blessing to get work right out of the gate here in Los Angeles as the music scene resets itself.
I’ve been able to do small gigs such as serenading couples & groups during Luxury Picnics (through Event Factory) with solo sax, to celeb private parties, to wedding gigs, playing regularly for churches & now to host a residency in North Hollywood of my own!
I am one of three in the collective “Crew 21” & we are the host band at Idle Hour in NoHo. Our next show is August 5th at 7pm & then moving forward, we will host shows there every 2nd & 4th Thursday starting in September. We will always have a featured artist & a jam set later in the night!
I also have the honor to be a part of Ari Herstand’s Brassroots District 1973 show: an immersive experience taking the audience back to the 70’s through an interactive storyline & original music with a live band. It is premiering July 10th through July 25th, 2021 in the DTLA arts district.
My mentor & professor, the New York-based (now Chicago/MKE) trumpeter/composer Russ Johnson has a saying about life, especially musicians:
“There are only two rules:
– Be a bad%##
– Be Cool!”
That basically means excel & work hard at whatever you do, and be as down-to-earth, professional & easy to work with as possible. I’m thankful that those two rules have gotten me this far. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been too smooth. Finances were a little rough to start, but I was able to survive with some state aid & remote recording/producing work with different artists/producers I either knew from back home or met in my short time in Los Angeles. I was fortunate to know & work with awesome individuals who made the rough times seem more bearable.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I play the saxophone and keyboards/piano/organ mainly. I compose & arrange. I have played drums in the past, brushing up on clarinet & flute and trumpet are on my learn-next-list.
Over this last year and a half, I was able to work with a producer named CAMEone & be part of some of his big sample packs he rolled, featured as an added producer/saxophone player. You can hear my sax played on Tory Lanez’s: Bittersweet and Joyner Lucas’: “The Problem” as well as a few other notable releases.
I also released my own full-length album entitled “Transit”, sort of as a landmark in my own transition from the Midwest to the West Coast. Transit was released January 2020.
What does success mean to you?
Success changes depending on perspective.
Personally, I look at success when I can move my situation in the direction of my goals. The big goals may not have been met yet, but if I’m hitting the checkpoints, I’ll call that success.
Clearly making my big dreams come true would be the ultimate “success”. However, being in LA has expanded even those dreams & shown me things & paths I didn’t know existed before.
– Getting those bigger artist placements: I call that success.
– Having relevant connections throughout the LA music scene: I call that success
– Getting the calls for gigs: I call that success
– Hosting a residency here in Los Angeles:
I call that success.
There are many more goals & checkpoints I have on my list, but knowing that things are moving in the right direction is success to me.
& finding ways to pursue my passion & really make it my career is the true goal, so since I’m making that happen, I feel successful.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @curtiscrumpmusic
Image Credits:
Savanna Davoski Ellen Choi Joana Jackson
